Syngenta Receives Japanese and Mexican Import Approvals for Corn Trait Stack with Dual Modes of Action against Above-Ground Pests

Aug 03, 2011

MINNETONKA, Minn. – Syngenta[1]in North America today announced that it has received import approval from Japanese and Mexican regulatory authorities for the Agrisure Viptera[2]™ 3220 trait stack, which offers corn growers dual modes of action against a broad-spectrum of above-ground (lepidopteran) insects including corn borer and a five percent refuge in the Corn Belt region of the United States. These regulatory approvals allow the importation of U.S. corn grown with the Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack for food or feed use within Japan and Mexico.

“Japanese and Mexican import approvals provide U.S. growers access to a highly valuable market and is a major step toward Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack commercialization for the 2012 growing season,” said David Morgan, Syngenta region director of North America and president of Syngenta Seeds, Inc. “Soon growers will be able to reap the benefits of record commodity prices, achieving higher yield potential with an unprecedented level of corn pest control and reduced refuge requirements.”

In Syngenta trials in 2010, hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera trait delivered an average yield advantage of 7.3 bushels per acre under ear-feeding insect pressure vs. hybrids without Agrisure Viptera technology. In addition, the Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack contains the trusted Agrisure®CB/LL trait, which has been helping to protect corn from European corn borer for more than ten years, while offering glufosinate tolerance; the Herculex® I trait for corn borer protection; and the Agrisure GT[3]trait for glyphosate tolerance.

In the U.S., the Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack has already received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)with a reduced five percent structured refuge in the Corn Belt region of the United States. Syngenta has also submitted a five percent blended refuge-in-a-bag version of the Agrisure Viptera 3220 trait stack for EPA approval. Once approved, it will be marketed as the Agrisure Viptera 3220 E-Z Refuge™ trait stack*. In cotton-growing regions, this trait stack will require a 50% refuge.

Agrisure Viptera technology is available in hybrids from the Syngenta seed brands of Garst[4], Golden Harvest[5]and NK[6]and is also being made available through licensing agreements with more than 150 local and independently owned seed companies.